Simon Sherry

Education

BA Honours (York University)
MA (University of British Columbia)
PhD (University of Saskatchewan)

Research Interests

I'm the director of Dalhousie University’s Personality Research Team. My team and I are responsible for making critical advancements in our understanding of the link between personality and mental health; in particular, our lab has clarified the contribution of perfectionism to depression, anxiety, eating disorders, relationship problems, and suicide. We also research alcohol problems.

In my clinical practice, I treat and assess various problems in both individuals and couples. I specialize in treating and assessing perfectionism, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, alcohol problems, and personality disorders. I am also a strong advocate for the science and the practice of clinical psychology. I regularly work with the media as part of my goal to educate the public about mental health problems in a scientific, non-sensationalized way.

Selected Publications

•Kim, A. J., Sherry, S. B., MacKinnon, S. P., Antony, M. M., Lee-Baggley, D., Hahn, C., Wang, G., & Stewart, S. H. (2024). When love hurts: Testing the stress generation hypothesis between depressive symptoms, conflict behaviors, and breakup rumination in romantic couples. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 43, 180-206.
•Smith, M. M., Hewitt, P. L., Sherry, S. B., Flett, G. L., Kealy, D., Tasca, G. A., Ge, S., Ying, F., & Bakken, K. (2023). A meta-analytic test of the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy for perfectionism: A replication and extension. Canadian Psychology, 64, 355–376.
•Isaacs, J. Y., Smith, M. M., Sherry, S. B., Seno, M., Moore, M. L., & Stewart, S. H. (2022). Alcohol use and death by suicide: A meta-analysis of 33 studies. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 52, 600-614.
•Smith, M. M., Sherry, S. B., Ray, C. M., Hewitt, P. L., & Flett, G. L. (2021). Is perfectionism a vulnerability factor for depressive symptoms, a complication of depressive symptoms, or both? A meta-analytic test of 67 longitudinal studies. Clinical Psychology Review, 84, 101982.
•Muyingo, L., Smith, M. M., Sherry, S. B., McEachern, E., Leonard, K. E., & Stewart, S. H. (2020). Relationships on the rocks: A meta-analysis of romantic partner effects on alcohol use. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 34, 629-640.
•Smith, M. M., Sherry, S. B., Saklofske, D. H., Vidovic, V., Stoeber, J., & Benoit, A. (2019). Perfectionism and the five-factor model of personality: A meta-analytic review. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 23, 367–390.
•Smith, M. M., Sherry, S. B., Chen, S., Saklofske, D. H., Mushquash, C. J., Flett, G. L., & Hewitt, P. L. (2018). The perniciousness of perfectionism: A meta-analytic review of the perfectionism-suicide relationship. Journal of Personality, 86, 522-542.
•Bartel, S. J., Sherry, S. B., Molnar, D. S., Mushquash, A. R., Leonard, K. E., Flett, G. L., & Stewart, S. H. (2017). Do romantic partners influence each other’s heavy episodic drinking? Support for the partner influence hypothesis in a 3-year longitudinal study. Addictive Behaviors, 69, 55-58.
•Smith, M. M., Sherry, S. B., Rnica, K., Saklofske, D. H., Enns, M. W., & Gralnick, T. M. (2016). Are perfectionism dimensions vulnerability factors for depressive symptoms after controlling for neuroticism? A meta-analysis of 10 longitudinal studies. European Journal of Personality, 30, 201-212.

Awards and Honours

•Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia: Community Service Award for Psychologists
•Dalhousie University's Faculty of Science Killam Prize
•Clinical Section of the Canadian Psychological Association: Scientist-Practitioner Early Career Award
•Discovery Centre’s Emerging Professional of Distinction Award
•H. J. Eysenck Memorial Fund Award
•Canadian Psychological Association: President’s New Researcher Award